Lakers: What Did the 3-Game Win Streak Really Mean For LA?

The Lakers ushered in the New Year with a 3-game winning streak that ended abruptly Tuesday but what does it mean for this season and beyond?

Although two of the victories came against lower-echelon NBA opponents, the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns, the wins do reveal that the team is improving. Of course, after starting the season 5-27, they had nowhere to go but up, and a few wins were inevitable.

They are still on pace to win only 18 games this season, but in all likelihood the win total will end up somewhere in the 20s. Whether the recent streak signaled a true turnaround or was just a blip in an otherwise miserable season is yet to be determined.

Following the loss to the Warriors Tuesday night, Coach Byron Scott criticized the play of young Julius Randle, especially on the defensive end. Randle, who presumably is being groomed to play a major role in future years, was not happy with being singled out in front of his teammates.

Scott provoked similar discontent earlier this season with his comments to and about prized rookie D’Angelo Russell. It looks like Byron has adopted the tough-guy approach used by Pat Riley, his coach from the Showtime heyday of the 80s. But Riles was coaching mostly older, experienced players in a different era. In today’s NBA, youngsters appear to require a lighter touch. Perhaps this communication gap explains why most of Scott’s messages seem to be falling on deaf ears.

Also, in a recent interview, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said that this year is solely about paying tribute to Kobe Bryant in his 20^th and final season, and indicated that development of the team’s young players is accordingly not a priority.

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Kupchak provided Kobe with experienced teammates to play alongside by adding veterans Roy Hibbert, Lou Williams and Brandon Bass to this season’s roster. But although Bryant deserves a proper send-off, it seems possible to accomplish that and still at least try to develop younger players for the future as well.

Meanwhile, kudos should be given to Kupchak and the rest of Lakers management and scouting staff for drafting both Jordan Clarkson in the second round in 2014 and Larry Nance Jr. late in the first round last year.

Each has demonstrated potential and promise well beyond what is normally expected of a late draft pick.

But Mitch is likely fooling himself if he thinks the team has a much better chance of signing a marquee free agent than they did the previous two years, when they struck out on star players such as Carmelo Anthony, LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan. Most veteran star free agents, including Kevin Durant, are seeking an NBA title. Why would any want to sign with a team like the Lakers, which is years away from contending?

However, the Lakers have built a core nucleus of young players who may someday become stars and lead them to the promised land. And they obviously will continue to draft and develop more ‘home-grown’ players like Randle, Russell, Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr.

Possibly another rookie, Anthony Brown, who got court time in Bryant’s absence, can be added to that list of keepers. Although he struggled to make his outside shots, his form looks good, and the team believes his shots will fall once he gets more experience. But the handling of Tarik Black remains a mystery. Despite his energy and promising performance last season, he only gets off the bench during garbage time.

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Naturally, the team and its fans would greatly benefit from getting a high pick in this June’s NBA draft as a ‘reward’ for enduring this horrendous season. And as has been repeatedly pointed out, the Lakers will only retain its first round pick if it falls in the top three after the lottery. The worse their position is in the standings, the better the odds are they’ll get that top three pick.

Right now they are precariously clinging to the second-worst record in the league with eight wins, ‘trailing’ only the 76ers who have won just four. But their mini-winning streak jeopardized that spot. They are a mere two games in front of the Brooklyn Nets, who have won 10 games. New Orleans has won 11, but will likely fare better in the near future as several injured players have returned to their lineup. But watch out for slumping teams like Minnesota (12 wins), Phoenix and Denver (13 apiece).

Of course putting Bryant on the court certainly doesn’t guarantee victories.

He has struggled for much of the season as various ailments and the impact of Father Time have limited his effectiveness. In fact, Kobe sat out 2 of the 3 recent wins with what was called a sore shoulder.

Next: 3 Things We Learned About the Lakers After the Kings Game

Bryant returned to the lineup to face Sacramento (14 wins) in a loss, and hopes to play Friday when they return home to face Oklahoma City, then Utah (15 wins) and New Orleans. That said, we may have a better idea of where the team truly stands following those games.